Big South Fork
Veteran HuntMissionTripsGalleryCampgroundReviewsContactApply
STRUNK & McCREARY COUNTY, KENTUCKY · EST. 2017

Getting veterans back into the outdoors.

All-expenses-paid, guided hunting and fishing trips for combat veterans. No fees. No fundraising minimum. You show up — we cover the rest.

Built for veterans carrying PTSD, TBI, and other service-connected disabilities — because the woods and the water are where a lot of us find our footing again.

2017Founded by Ricky Allen
$0Cost to the veteran
501(c)(3)EIN 81-4987380
Year-roundHunts, fishing & camp
THE MISSION

Camaraderie is the medicine. The outdoors is the setting.

The Big South Fork Veteran Hunt is a non-profit organization headquartered in Strunk, Kentucky, near the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Founded in 2017 by Ricky Allen, we provide guided outdoor trips for combat veterans — at no cost, ever.

Our focus is veterans living with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other service-connected disabilities. What happens on these trips is simple and old-fashioned: a truck ride before daylight, a stand overlooking a hollow, a fire, a shared meal, and people who don’t need the story explained to them.

Every trip is guided by volunteers who know this country — the ridges, the river, and the deer that live in it.

“You can’t put a price on watching a man who hasn’t slept right in years fall asleep by a campfire.”

— The volunteers of Big South Fork Veteran Hunt

WHAT WE RUN

Trips on the calendar

Seasons shift and so do we. Here’s the shape of a typical year in the Big South Fork.

A veteran and his son with a whitetail buck taken on a Big South Fork guided hunt.BIG GAME

Guided Deer Hunts

Fall whitetail hunts on private and managed ground, with stands set and scouted before you arrive.

A veteran with a hog taken on a night hunt.BIG GAME

Hog Hunts

Year-round hog hunting for veterans who want action outside the deer season.

Four young hunters holding shotguns in the woods before a small game outing.SMALL GAME

Small Game Outings

Squirrel, rabbit, and upland walks — good country, easy pace, no pressure.

Tackle boxes and rods laid out on the dock ahead of a multi-day fishing trip.WATER

Multi-Day Fishing

Lake and river trips with guides and gear provided, from bank fishing to full boat days.

A group of veterans gathered at the dock among houseboats before a weekend trip.WATER

Houseboat Weekends

Two and three-day houseboat trips — fishing, cooking, and a whole lot of nothing urgent.

Two veterans sharing a plate of food by the campfire at dusk.BASE CAMP

Camping & Fellowship

Camp weekends at our own campground for veterans and, on family events, their people too.

ALL EXPENSES PAID

What we cover

Cost is the reason a lot of veterans never make it back outdoors. So we removed it. For selected participants, the trip is covered end to end.

TravelHunting & fishing licensesLodgingAll mealsFirearms & ammunitionRods, tackle & boatsBlaze orange & cold-weather gearLicensed guidesGame processing
FROM THE FIELD

Real hunts, real veterans

These aren’t stock photos. Every frame here is a trip we ran — the harvests, the kids who came along, the fires, and the crews who made it happen.

A veteran kneeling with a whitetail buck at night, dog looking on. A young hunter in blaze orange kneeling with her deer in the woods. A veteran at full draw with a compound bow in camp. View from inside a hunting blind down a leaf-covered trail, rifle scope in frame. A group of veterans and kids posing at a picnic table with pumpkins and an American flag. A father and son kneeling with a young buck, mountains in the background at dusk. Two hunters crouched together starting a campfire. A group of veterans and a dog holding a signed Big South Fork Veteran Hunt banner beside a hanging buck. Veterans teaching kids to handle a shotgun at a picnic table with pumpkins.
BASE CAMP

Big South Fork Veteran Hunt Campground

Our campground sits at the edge of the Big South Fork region and stays open year-round. It’s home base for hunts and fishing trips, and it’s open to travelers whose stay helps fund the next veteran’s trip.

  • Electrical hookup
  • Potable water
  • Dump station
  • Picnic tables
  • WiFi
  • Horse trail access
  • Hiking trails
  • Pet friendly
  • Horse friendly
  • Camper rental
  • Fishing pond
  • Open year-round
Reserve a Site
The Big South Fork Veteran Hunt Campground amenities banner on the covered deck at the campsite, with trucks parked and a grill set up.
IN THEIR WORDS

What veterans tell us

After every trip we hand out a feedback form — the good, the bad, and the ugly. We publish it as written, critiques included, because that’s the only way this program keeps getting better.

“
Thanks for making me part of the team. I’ll never forget sitting with McGuire and Gary on their deer hunts. Experience of a lifetime. Priceless.
What they liked

Hanging out with veterans, the camaraderie, the camping trailers set up, the food, the heaters, and a schedule that ran Thursday to Sunday like clockwork.

What we’re working on

Putting blinds around the climbing ladder stands, and getting the blinds level.

— Hunt Participant, Fall Weekend
“
Don’t ever stop this dream. It makes a difference.
What they liked

It was almost instantly a family feeling. The positivity and laughter was contagious — even talking about the hard stuff openly. Feeling relaxed, letting my walls down, and knowing I was safe. I now have some new lifelong friends.

— Hunt Participant, Fall Weekend
“
I don’t know what I’d do without these types of events. I need the friendship to keep me sane and in good spirits. Had one of the best times ever.
What they liked

Meeting other vets and hanging out with them. People who care — guides, help, everyone. All care, and you can tell.

What we’re working on

Maybe a family event just to hang out with alumni — a cookout weekend or similar.

— Sean Fakon, Hunt Participant
FOR VETERANS

Ready to get back out there?

Combat veterans are welcome to apply. Tell us your branch, your service dates, and what you’d like to hunt or fish. There’s no cost and no obligation — just a phone call and a spot on the list.

SUPPORT THE HUNT

Every trip is paid for by someone who cared.

We’re a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN 81-4987380). Donations are tax-deductible and go directly toward licenses, lodging, fuel, food, and gear for veterans on the list.

GET IN TOUCH

Talk to us directly

Phone

(606) 310-1683

Ricky Allen, Founder

Location

Strunk, McCreary County
Kentucky 42649

Big South Fork Veteran Hunt logo
Big South Fork Veteran Hunt
501(c)(3) non-profit · EIN 81-4987380 · Strunk, KY
© 2026 Big South Fork Veteran Hunt. All rights reserved.